Latest news with #Pandher
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Punjab farmers' body call for ‘rail roko' on May 7 against ‘illegal, forced' land acquisition
The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) has announced a statewide Rail Roko protest on May 7 at Devidas Pura railway station in Amritsar district along the Amritsar–Delhi railway line, to oppose alleged illegal and forceful acquisition of farmland in Punjab without fair compensation. The call has come at a time when the border districts of Punjab are under high security alert and mockdrills of blackouts have begun. Amritsar is a sensitive border disirct having Wagah border. Sarwan Singh Pandher, leader of KMSC said,' the call is of a day and whether to continue it ahead or not depends on the response of administration.' More protest points will be added on May 8 if things are not resolved well in time, warned Pandher. The announcement was made by KMSC's state president Sukhwinder Singh Sabhra, general secretary Rana Ranbir Singh, and leader Sarwan Singh Pandher in a Sunday late evening meeting held at Amritsar. The leaders accused the Punjab government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, of turning the state into a 'police state' where land is being acquired under Bharatmala and other central projects across districts including Gurdaspur, Amritsar, and Tarn Taran without following due legal and compensation processes. 'For the past three years, we have led protests at several locations where hundreds of farmers have been denied their fundamental rights. Lands have been seized without fair or timely compensation,' said Pandher. 'In many cases, landowners have not yet received awards, yet authorities are moving in to forcibly acquire their land.' The situation remains tense in villages like Saiduke (Amritsar district), where heavy police deployment was reported as authorities moved to occupy farmland ok Saturday , he told. Farmers, however, reclaimed possession in some areas. 'This high-handed approach, disguised as development, is only helping corporate interests while pushing landowners into distress,' said Sabhra, warning that the state government will have to face consequences if the concerns are not addressed. Preparations for the May 7protest are reportedly underway at a 'war footing' level. The leaders also cautioned that if the government does not respond by May 8, more rail roko protest points, including Basti Tenka Wali in Ferozepur, will be activated. 'The agitation may intensify further across the state,' said Rana Ranbir Singh. The farmers acknowledged the inconvenience the protest may cause to the public but stressed that the issue was a matter of survival for thousands of farming families. 'Our lands, worth crores, are being taken away for free or at throwaway prices. People are willing to lay down their lives rather than give up their land without justice,' the KMSC leaders stated.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Exclude Punjab representatives or face boycott of May 4 meet: Farmers to Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Amritsar: Farmer leaders have asked Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to exclude Punjab govt representatives from the May 4 meeting in Chandigarh or face a boycott while demanding Rs 50,000 per acre as compensation for crop losses. The demand was made in a letter sent to the minister on Monday, according to Sarvan Singh Pandher of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. The letter was signed by several farmer leaders, including Pandher, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Abhimanyu Kohad, Sukhjit Singh Hardojhandae, Sukhdev Singh Bhojraj, Manjit Singh Rai, Sukhwinder Kaur, and Balwant Singh Baharamkae. "Let us see what the agriculture minister answers," Pandher said. The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) have accused the Punjab govt of acting deceitfully by arresting farmers shortly after a meeting held with them on March 19 and violently ending their peaceful protests at the Shambhu and Data Singh Wala–Khanauri inter-state borders. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Breaks His Silence: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Pandher said that they intend to raise the issue directly with chief minister Bhagwant Mann during his visit to Khalsa College on May 2. On the recent damage to standing crops in incidents of fire and hailstorms, Pandher said they urge the state govt to provide compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre to affected farmers." Regarding their upcoming programme, he said that on May 6, farmers will stage a gherao at the police station near the Shambhu border, demanding the suspension of the police officer responsible for ordering the lathicharge against them. MSID:: 120697450 413 |
